The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-12-03
Wheeling Intelligence.


Shame.
Wheeling Intelligence
Capt. ALI Burnett, the head of the
famous Eureka detective agency, at
Charleston, is in the city fresh from
the sections of Roane and jackson
counties in which was recently en-
acted the series of bloody tragedies
which resulted in the death of four
men, and which not only stained the
soil of West Virginia with the blood
of innocent men shed by their fell
low men, but stained more deeply
the fair fame of the State among the
comfmonwealths of the country, at
taching to her a stigma, the like Of
which has been standing reproach
to Texas and Kentucky in the past.
Captain Burnett was in that country
seeking clues which will lead to the
punishment of the real murderers of
Rev. Mr.. Ryan and of the lynchers
of three men unjustly, it is now con-
coded, hanged by a lawless mob for
their crime
An Intelligencer reporter met
Capt. Burnett last night, and while
there has been much printed about
the Roane county murders, the pub
lished accounts have been 80 in
adequate that the detective was ask
ed for a connected story of the
events.
THE MURDER OF MR.. RYAN.
On the night of Thursday, Octo-
Der 10, Rev. Thomas p. Ryan was
shot and fatally wounded at his
home in Roane county. Mr.. Ryan
was brother of Rev. f. W. Ryan,
formerly a prominent minister of
this city. He was well to do man,
having the reputation of keeping
ready money by him, and report
was circulated in the neighborhood
of his home that at the time of the
last session of Conference at Park
ersburg he drew 5000 out of a bank
there and had it in his house. 1t is
believed that the object of the muir
derers was to secure this money.
Thursday night, October Is, five
or more men knocked at the door of
Rev. Mr.. Ryan, on the Flat Fork of
Poca, about seven miles from Walton,
Roane county. This was about IL
o'clock, and the men roughly de-
manded admittance. Mr.. Ryan,
though nearly sixty years of age,
was pretty gritty man, and arming
himself with his shot gun he ordered
them to keep off on pain of being
shot. In response they fired one
shot through the front door, doing
no damage except to the door.
THE FATAL SHOT.
A moment later the shot was fired
into the side of the house. 1t is
possible that this shot was fired
merely to Brighten Mr.. Ryan. In
stead of this, however, it pierced the
heavy weather boarding, the lat,
and plaster, went clear through the
body of Mr.. Ryan, and afterward
through the thick head board Of a
bed beside which he stood, and was
then DETECTED aud entered the wall
of the room at an angle from and
some distance above its original
range. s5 M
Mr.. Ryan's shot gun, as he fell,
was discharged, one barrel of it, the
charge lodging in the wall. The
hammer of the other barrel remain
ed cooked. The noise aroused the
family and they removed Mr.. Ryan
upstairs, where he fingered till morn
ing, dying about sunrise, expressing
forgiveness for his enemies and pray
ing for them.
THE CAPTURE.
Warrants were sworn out by Thos
Ryan, jr., the murdered mans son
for Perry Drake, whom the old mar
thought he recognized among his
murderers, George Duff and Win
chester Coon. In pencil the name O
Robert M. Duff was added to the
warrant. Constable Gibson with /,
posse of five started to make the
arrests. Drake was, however, arrest
ed before the warrant was issued ant
went along without objection. Coor
and George Duff were next arrested
a large and excited crowd following
the constable. The two men wer,
alarmed and Coon asked what wal
wanted. The only response was ,
shot from the crowd and immediate
ly the firing became general. Thre,
of the attacking party were wound
ed, but no one fatally. George Dut
was fatally shot in the abdomen.
Coon surrendered when told by .
friend that he was wanted for tn,
murder of Mr. Ryan, saying he wal
ready to go. He had supposed thu
attack was by personal enemies.
The crowd then proceeded to ar
rest Robert M. Duff, which was don,
without trouble. The three. wer'
taken to the scene of the murder, ant
near there left under guard to awai
an examination on Monday.
Saturday night the members of tn,
consolidated Band" as the lynch
ers called themselves, notified Cool
that they intended to hang him.
A FAREWELL LETTER.
He asked for paper and wrote
letter to his mother, Mrs. Eliza f
Coon, Huntington, in which he sd
dressed her as Darling Mother ant
told her of the situation and tn,
charge, and adding, This is tn,
last time you will ever hear from me
for l am going to be hung. Civ
my regards to my sisters and broth
ers. and this is all l can say. 1t il
my dying truth. am not guilty
God bless you, my darling mother
Your loving son,
| w. C. Coon.
1t was only few moments late
until the threat was carried out
Coon was taken by few Of the mol
without resistance by his guards
Two of the guards belonged to tn
"Band." He was led short dis
lance to the banks of the creek, wa
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